Is Sharmila Doing Better Than YCP?

AP Congress PCC chief Sharmila has shifted into an aggressive mode. Even though her party has no seats in the Assembly, she is positioning herself as a voice for the people and farmers. On Friday, she called for a “Chalo Assembly” program, declaring that she would directly question CM Chandrababu on behalf of farmers and the public. Although police stopped her protest, she made her intent very clear, she would not step back from her fight.

What stands out is that YCP, which secured 11 seats as the main opposition, has never attempted such a statewide agitation. While Jagan and his party leaders keep saying they are questioning the government, their protests have been limited to small, district-level programs that failed to make any strong impact across the state. Meanwhile, YCP MLAs are barely in the spotlight, raising doubts about their role as an opposition.

In contrast, Sharmila has begun to change her political strategy. Until recently, she was constantly attacking Jagan, drawing criticism even from within political circles. But in her first “Chalo Assembly” protest, she avoided targeting Jagan or his past government. Instead, she shifted her focus entirely onto the current government and its accountability to farmers and people.

This shift has turned into a minus point for YCP. With Sharmila emerging as someone who raises people’s issues, her presence is being noticed more seriously. Analysts believe that if the perception grows that Sharmila is asking the right questions while YCP remains silent, it could further weaken YCP’s relevance as an opposition party. For that reason, many feel YCP urgently needs to rework its approach before it is completely overshadowed.